All About Will Ferrell’s Brother Patrick Ferrell (Who Made a Hilarious Cameo inElf!)

Mar. 15, 2025

Will Ferrell and Patrick Ferrell attend the opening night after party for “You’re Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush” at Mansion on February 5, 2009 in New York City.Photo:Bryan Bedder/Getty

Bryan Bedder/Getty

Will Ferrelland his brother, Patrick Ferrell, both have a taste for performing.

TheBlades of Glorystar grew up with his sibling in Irvine, Calif. Their mother, Betty Kay Overman, worked as a teacher, while their father, Roy Lee Ferrell, was a musician who played with The Righteous Brothers.

Aftertheir parents splitin the mid-1970s, Will and Patrick lived with their mom in an apartment complex in Irvine. Roy Lee often traveled for work, and Betty Kay held multiple different jobs, Will said on theRuthie’s Table 4podcast in January 2024.

The two brothers attended the University of Southern California for college and eventually, they went into the entertainment business. Like Will, Patrick became an actor and producer, playing many small roles in his brother’s projects fromSaturday Night LivetoElf.

Here’s everything to know about Will Ferrell’s brother — Patrick Ferrell — and his relationship with the fellow actor.

He made Will laugh when they were kids

Will Ferrell and his brother Patrick Ferrell attend the opening night afterparty for “You’re Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush” at Mansion on February 5, 2009 in New York City.Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

Will, who has spoken about comedy not being his first career choice, may not have had his eye on Hollywood, but his brother helped develop his love for the performance art.

Speaking to theVictorville Daily Pressin 2009, the actor opened up about his sense of humor as a child. He shared that whenever he watched a comedic moment, he wouldn’t laugh and instead say, “Oh, that’s funny.” Still, when Will saw Patrick laughing, it would make him laugh too.

“I would love watching stuff with my brother because things would tickle him, and it would get me going,” Will told the outlet. “I would laugh at watching my brother laugh.”

They both went to the University of Southern California

Will Ferrell attends the European premiere of ‘Barbie’ at the Cineworld Leicester Square in London, United Kingdom on July 12, 2023.Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu Agency via Getty

Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu Agency via Getty

Will and Patrick were students at the University of Southern California.

Will graduated in 1990with a degree in sports information — thinking he’d go into sports broadcasting — though he also took some classes in the School of Dramatic Arts, according toUSC.

Patrick, on the other hand, went right into the entertainment industry, majoring in film, cinema and video studios for his undergraduate degree, per hisLinkedIn. He later studied cinematography and film/video production for his master’s.

They’ve worked on several projects together

Will Ferrell and his brother Patrick Ferrell (R) in a scene together in the movie ‘Elf’ (2003).

In the mid-1990s, when Willfirst started onSaturday Night Live, his brother landed minor parts in the cast, too. From 1996 to 1999, he played various roles and served as a stagehand on a dozen episodes.

Patrick also joined Will in a few movies — from playing a security guard who throws Will’s Buddy the Elf out of a New York City office building inElfto a precinct detective inThe Other GuysalongsideMark Wahlberg.

In 2009, Patrick also hit the Broadway stage with Will during his run ofYou’re Welcome America. A Final Night With George W. Bush,in whichWill played President George Bush. In it, Patrick portrayed a break-dancing secret service agent, perThe New York Times.

The following year, he was also credited as an assistant to Will on the set ofAnchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.

They travel together

Will Ferrell attends the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards on February 25, 2024 in Santa Monica, California.Kayla Oaddams/WireImage

Kayla Oaddams/WireImage

In 2009, the siblings spent two weeks stopping around Ireland with their dad, Roy Lee, tracing their family’s Irish lineage, perIrish Central.

A decade later, in 2019, when Will was filmingEurovisionwithRachel McAdams, his brother accompanied him to Edinburgh and Glasgow. The two were spotted out enjoying dinner while Will was taking a break from shooting, perThe Scottish Sun.

He got married in 2021

Patrick and his wife, Sarah Grogan, wed on Aug. 7, 2021, at the Church of the Good Shepherd Beverly Hills, Calif., according to her alma mater’sHorizonsalumni magazine.

source: people.com